Is Glycolic Acid really harmful to your skin?The answer is a definite "NO". Scientific studies have proved that Glycolic Acid is able to stimulate new growth of skin and collagen...

Glycolic Acid extracted from sugar cane is the most active and beneficial of the Alpha-Hydroxy-Acids (AHA) in skin care. It is the only AHA that is able to penetrate through the cell walls by virtue of its small molecular size. Once inside the cell, it will trigger the new formation of collagen and turn on the synthesis of dermal glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) to plump up the cell and the ground substances in the skin to reduce wrinkles on the skins surface.

Glycolic Acid also affects the newly forming keratin cells at the bottom of the stratum corneum causing the bulk of the stratum corneum to lift off and separate from the underlying skin. This gives the skin a much smoother look and feel.

Glycolic Acid has been proven to be very effective in the treatment of acne as well as the cosmetic benefits one receives.

Glycolic Acid is one of the most effective substances to use in the treatments of many other skin conditions, such as:

Acne

Whiteheads

Blackheads

Psoriasis

Eczema

Dry Skin

Age Spots

The Asian woman's skin
1. Is it possible to improve uneven skin tone?

Dr. UT said: This is due to uneven deposition of pigmentation caused by long term over exposure to UV rays and pollutions which over time leads to damaged skin.

UT tipsThe cause of dull skinBesides uneven skin tone, dull, yellowish skin is another problem that haunts the modern woman.

Why skin becomes dull and yellowish? Common reasons are:

UV Rays damage the skin, hormone imbalance, medication, lack of sleep, improper diet, pollution and stress are all contributing factors to a lacklustre complexion. Lack of sleep is a major contributor to dull skin.

Dr. UT said: This is another common mistake made by most people. Many people think that if they apply sunblock with a high SPF value, there is no need to re-apply. When applying sunblock in the morning, excessive perspiration will slowly remove the sunblock during the day, therefore will not be able to protect the skin from UV rays.

Most people would like to have fair skin with no pigmentation problems, however, not many people are able to carry out a whitening and sunblock regimen. For instance, the use of SPF 30-50 with PA++ should be sufficient in your daily routine, unless after laser, skin surgery or sensitive skin which require higher SPF. It is more important to re-apply constantly, especially during hot days and outdoors, because skin sweats and gets oily easily and may remove the sunblock.

3. Why pore size is enlarged?

This is unavoidable even for those with a good skin condition. Many are emotionally affected by the problem of enlarged pore size, such as strawberry nose, sesame nose, orange peel face etc. Though this is not a disease, it does however affect a person's self-confidence. No wonder the market is flooded with "reduce pore size, clear acne" type of products.

Pores appear enlarged for many reasons. Probably the most common reason is due to the ageing process. As we age, the skin loses collagen, elastin and water causing the tissues beneath the skin to shrink pulling down the edges of the pores. Apart from ageing, oily skin also causes pores to appear enlarged because the skin tends to become thickened. This is caused by excessive secretion of oil by sebaceous glands where accumulative oil gets trapped in hair follicles and leads to the pores appearance being enlarged. Hygiene can also cause open pores.

Sun damage is also a key factor. Years of over exposure to UV rays cause collagen and elastin to deteriorate, loss of firmness and pores become enlarged.

Many people like to squeeze their pimple, without using a proper method; it often causes skin inflammation and formation of a scar, leading to an uneven surface, which appears to be an enlarged pore.

Dr. UT said: There are few options in treating enlarged pores, application of skin care products containing vitamin C and glycolic acid may help to stimulate skin fibroblast in producing collagen to firm up the skin. The result is clear even though it may a take long time to improve the condition. Toner is not an effective way to reduce the pore size; in fact, the alcohol content will over time dry up the skin, obviously not suitable for those with sensitive skin. Alternatively, one can choose professional treatment from a certified beauty centre and let the professional practitioner solve your problem.

As a reminder, it is important to take care and apply sunblock to prevent UV rays that accelerate skin ageing, delay the loss of skin elasticity and enlargement of pore size.